Over 60,000 Flee Sudan's City Following Seizure by RSF Paramilitary Group, UN Reports

Refugees fleeing conflict in Sudan
Many are attempting to get to the town of Tawila but encounter intimidation, extortion and abuse from militiamen along the way

As stated by the UN refugee agency, in excess of 60,000 individuals have escaped the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was taken over by the paramilitary RSF during the weekend.

There have been multiple executions and atrocities as militia members entered the city following an 18-month siege characterized by starvation and sustained attacks.

The exodus of those fleeing the violence towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) to the west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the recent days, according to United Nations refugee agency representative.

They were narrating horrendous stories of violence, such as rape, and the organization was struggling to find sufficient shelter and supplies for them.

Each child was suffering from nutritional deficiencies, she commented.

Estimates suggest that over 150,000 residents are currently trapped in el-Fasher, which had been the army's remaining fortress in the western part of Darfur.

The RSF has rejected widespread allegations that the executions in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and follow a pattern of the Arab fighters targeting non-Arab communities.

Nevertheless the RSF has detained one of its militiamen, Abu Lulu, who has been charged with summary executions.

The organization released video showing the member's detention after confirmation that he was involved in the execution of multiple civilians in the vicinity of el-Fasher.

Digital platform has acknowledged that it has removed the profile connected to Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had controlled the profile in his name.

Sudan was plunged into a domestic fighting in April 2023 following a brutal struggle for power broke out between its military and the RSF.

This has caused a food crisis and accusations of mass killing in the Darfur area.

More than 150,000 individuals have died in the conflict across the country, and about 12 million have abandoned their homes in what the United Nations has termed the biggest global humanitarian disaster.

The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the geographic split in the country, with the Rapid Support Forces now in control of western Sudan and significant areas of adjacent Kordofan to the south, and the army holding the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern regions along the coastal region.

The opposing sides had been collaborators - taking over together in a seizure of power in 2021 - but disagreed over an globally supported plan to transition to civilian rule.

Stuart Nelson
Stuart Nelson

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